Amazon (AMZN) to Ship New Video-Streaming Device in April (NFLX) (AAPL)

Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) is planning to ship a video-streaming device next month, putting names like Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX), DISH Networks (Nasdaq: DISH), and DirecTV (Nasdaq: DTV) on watch.

The WSJ said Amazon's set-top box (STB) will sell through its website as well as physical retailers like Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS) and Best Buy (NYSE: BBY). The device will also feature similar apps to those found on Roku and Apple TV (Nasdaq: AAPL). Like Kindle, Amazon's STB will run on a modified version of Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) Android.

Pricing wasn't speculated, though its expected that Amazon will offer certain incentives for Prime members and to drive further Prime membership. Amazon Prime, for example, has a vast library of novels for those with Kindle devices to check out for free, but a similar feature isn't available for smartphones even with the Kindle app.

Prices for Amazon's competitors is light; Roku units start at $50, while Google's Chromecast is priced at $35 and Apple's Apple TV runs $99. Making a significant splash means the device would need to cost well under $100.

Amazon has been offering streaming content for some time now and recently got into producing original content. The company has been losing out on ad revenue and certain key metrics to enhance shopping experiences by allowing its video to be streamed through third-party devices.

Shares of Amazon are lower in early Tuesday trading.

---

Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

---

You May Also Be Interested In

• Meta Platforms (META) Is Building A Cloud Business To Sell Excess Ai Compute - Bloomberg
• Exclusive-SoftBank renews talks for $10 billion loan against OpenAI stake, adds concessions, sources say
• FDA allows ZYN to sell pouches on health benefits - Axios